Binder for leaves



Jan. 28, 1941 BINDER FOR LEAVE S Filed May 17, 1939 F iG.1

A. PRACHE 2,229,936

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,229,935 BINDER, FORLeaves Andre Prache, Paris, France a Application May 17, 1939, SerialNo. 274,095

8 Claims. (Cl. 281-25) This invention relates to devices for bindingleaves or sheets and particularly to such devices comprising acomb-shaped structure the teeth of which are adapted to be insertedthrough aligned perforations formed along one of the marginal edges of apackor bundle of leaves.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved binder,wherein the teeth extending from the opposite edges of a strip ofresilient material are so arranged that each perforation can be engagedby a pair of teeth juxtaposed side by side but in non-overlappingrelation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved binder forleaves having marginal perforations, wherein the teeth juxtaposed sideby side pairwise extend from staggered positions of the opposite edgesof a strip-shaped stock of resilient material and are bent into loopsthat are engaged through the respective perforations.

Another object again of the invention is to provide an improved binderfor perforated leaves or sheets, wherein the free ends of the teethextend to the neighborhood of the edge of a strip 5 of resilientmaterial opposite to its edge from which they spring out thereby formingcomplete loops separated by narrow slits.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved binderfor a pack of perforated leaves, wherein each perforation is engaged bywe pair of juxtaposed loops formed by bending round teeth extending sideby side in reverse directions from the opposite edges of a strip-shapedstock of resilient material, the free ends of said loops being locatedat offset positions'so that the leaves cannot become unduly disengaged,

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved binder forperforated leaves, wherein the teeth or loops grouped pairwise extendfrom staggered positions of plain runs of the opposite longitudinaledges of a strip-shaped stock of resilient material, said plain runsbeing separated by notches into which may project the free ends of eachtooth or loop, the slip between each pair of juxtaposed loops extendingat any suitable angle to the major axis of the stock, the teeth being oftapered shape and separated in each pair by a helically extending slit,each notch being so sized and formed as to accommodate at least partlythe adjacent end of a tooth or loop.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved binderfor perforated leaves which can be easily and cheaply made by punching asheet of any suitable resilient material to form a comb-shaped blank ofthe required pattern, the teeth of such blank being afterwards readilybent into loops and engaged in pairs into the respective perforations ofa pack of loose leaves or sheets for securely retaining said leaves 5 inbound relation, the tapering shape of the teeth facilitating theirinsertion through the perforations. I

With these and such other objects in view as will incidentally appearhereafter, the invention 10 comprises the novel structure andarrangement of parts that will be now fully described with reference tothe accompanying drawing exemplifying suitable embodiments of the sameand forming a part of the present disclosure. 15

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the binder according tothe invention may be bent and shaped into operative form.

Figures 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1 20 showing modifications ofthe blank from which the binder is made.

Figure 4 is anelevational view partly isometric showing a binderaccording to the invention as applied to a pack of leaves or sheetsformed 25 alongside one of their edges with a row of aligned marginalperforations of elongated shape.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modification of thebinder as applied to a pack or bundle of leaves or sheets.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the binder is made from a flatblank which may be constituted by any suitable thin material, preferablya 35 strip of a more or less hard and resilient material such as a metalor'alloy, Celluloid, viscose or the'like, such material being eitherleft bare or covered or clad with paint, varnish, fabric or a similarcoating. This coating may be of a 'color 40 matching that of the colorof the leaves H) or contrasting with it. Any suitable ornamentation orinscriptions may be provided on the binder. The leaves It may be ofuniform or differentiated thicknesses. For instance, the outer leaves ofa 45 pack may be of greater thickness than the remaining leaves foraffording the required protection of the pack.

As shown in Fig. 1, the strip from which the binder is made comprises acentral or stock por- 50 tion II and a plurality of tapered teeth l2, 13of equal length extending from the opposite longitudinal edges of saidstock portion. Intermediate the teeth, each of saiddongitudinal edges iscut at intervals to provide inwardly tapering 55 from one edge to theother. The teeth I2, I3 are also arranged in staggered relation, thosewhich extend from one longitudinal edge of the stock portion IIsubstantially corresponding in location with the notches cut in theopposite longitudinal edge. In the form shown, one of the free edges ofeach tooth I2 or I3 is perpendicular to the longitudinal edge of thestock portion II while the other free edge of the tooth extendsobliquely at an angle to said longitudinal edge, The angle at which runthe oblique free edges of all teeth I2 on one side of the stock portionII is substantially equal to the angle at which the oblique free edgesof all teeth I3 on the opposite side of said stock portion run, but saidoblique free edges are slightly offset from any tooth I2 on one side tothe nearest tooth I3 on the opposite side. The straight runs I6, I1 ofthe longitudinal edges of the stock portion II between the consecutiveteeth I2 or I3 on each side are substantially longer than the widths ofthe teeth at their base (broader) end.

Owing to this arrangement, when the teeth have been bent round to formloops and the binder is in operative position with respect to the packof leaves II) (as shown in Fig. 5) the teeth I2, I3 are grouped pairwiseand a narrow slit I8 is defined between each pair of teeth juxtaposedside by side. Each pair of contiguous 'teeth or loops is engaged in oneof a row of aligned marginal perforations I9 formed along the adjacentedges of the leaves Ill.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 slightly differs from the form shown inFig. 1 by the fact I5 instead of being sharp have stump or truncatedbottoms as shown as M and I5 and the straight runs I6, I! on theopposite longitudinal edges of the stockportion I I are almost equal tothe width of the teeth I2, I3 at their base (broader) ends. As a resultof this, the teeth are more closely clustered relative to one another.Consequently they can be engaged through closer I9 of the pack or leavesmarginal perforations I0. As will be seen, in

v this construction, each tooth I2 forms with the not nearest tooth I3on the opposite edge of the stock portion II a parallelogrammicstructure.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the notches I4 and I5 haveshapes similar to those shown in Fig. 1 but the free edges of the teethI2, I3 instead of converging as in Figs. 1 and 2 run parallel to eachother over the greater portion of their lengths and are interconnectedadjacent their extremities by short oblique lines I 2a and I3a forming,as it were, bevels. The obliquity of each line I2a runs, r lative to themajor axis of the stock portion II reverse to the obliquity of each lineI3a, the latter being substantially parallel with the obliquelyextending edge 01 the notches I4 and I5. The teeth I2 and I3 extend fromthe opposite edges of the stock portion II in staggered arrangement, andthe straight runs I6 and I! are about twice as long as the width of eachof the teeth.

Instead of having bevelled ends as shown at I3 may have double bevels asillustrated in Fig.

As will be seen, the free end of each tooth I 2 or I3 projects into oneoi the notches I5 or I formed in the longitudinal edge of the stockportion II of the strip opposite to the edge from which the teethextend. Thisfeature. coupled with the fact that a pair oicompanionteethI2, I3 defining between them a narrow slit I8 -is.-en-

13 they :1 a direction 1 perforations comprising gaged through eachperforation I9, prevents the leaves In from becoming unduly disengagedfrom the binder. If any leaf I 0 is swung about the axis of the binder,for example when opening out a pad or copybook or catalogue made of anumber of such leaves thus bound, the portions of the leaves situatedbetween their marginal perforations I 9 cannot be moved beyond the plainportions or runs I6. I! of the longitudinal edges of the strip II andcannot therefore penetrate into the notches I4, I5 and slide backthrough the slits I8. In other words, the leaves are locked in packed orbundled condition by the insertion of pairs of oppositely extendingteeth or loops I2, I3 through their perforations I9.

An advantage of the notches I4, I5 which receive the free extremities ofthe teeth I2, I3 that are bent into loops to fulfil their leaf-bindingfunction is that they enable said extremities to extend well beyond theadjacent edges of the packed leaves, thus rendering the binding moresecure. Another advantage of the notches I4, I5'is that by receiving andsnugly accommodating the free extremities of the teeth or loops I2,prevent them from becoming turned or shrivelled up particularly when apack of leaves thus bound rubs a neighboring object. This obviates therisk of the extremities of the teeth I2, I3 becoming a cause of wound orinjury.

Where, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the narrow slits I8 betweenthe contiguous teeth or loops I 2, I3 in each pair extend helically tothe major axis of the strip II, the risk of an undue disengagement ofthe leaves III is still further lessened while the other qualities ofthe binder are further enhanced.

The improved binder is applicable to packs or bundles of leaves orsheets made of paper, cardboard, thin metal or alloy, viscose and likeproducts, Celluloid and analogous sheet form materials and particularlyto all articles used in stationery or for teaching or advertisingpurposes such as copybooks, books, albums, diaries, catalogues, looseleaf pads; it is also adaptable to packed or bundled maps, charts, cardsor similar articles.

The constructional details might vary of course without departing fromthe scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1.-A binder for leaves provided with sets of aligned marginalperforations comprising a strip of resilient material having teethextending from its opposite edges, said teeth being so positioned andcurled in "opposite directions as to form pairs of oppositely convolutedresilient contiguous loops, 9. pair of said contiguous loops beingsprung into each set of perforations, the free end of each tooth beingadjacent the edge of the strip opposite to the edge whence said toothextends.

2 A binder for leaves provided with marginal perforations comprising astrip of resilient material having spaced notches in its oppositelongitudinal edges and teeth extending from the plain portions of saidedges, said teeth being so positioned and curled in opposite directionsas to form pairs of oppositely convoluted resilient contiguous loopsfree of overlap, the pairs of said contiguous loops being sprung intothe respective perforations, the free end of each loop projecting into anotch in that edge of the strip opposite to the edge whence said loopextends.

3. A binder for leaves a strip of resilient mateprovided with marginalrial having staggered notches in its opposite longitudinal edges andteeth extending from the plain portions of said edges between thenotches, said teeth being so positioned and curled in oppositedirections as to form pairs of oppositely convoluted resilientcontiguous loops free of overlap, the pairs of said loops being sprungthrough the respective perforations, each loop being taperedandprojecting into a notch of matching tapering shape in that edgeof thestrip opposite to the edge whence said loop extends.

4. A binder for leaves provided with marginal perforations comprising astrip of resilient material having staggered notches in its oppositelongitudinal edges and teeth extending from straight portions of saidedges between said notches, each tooth being narrower than the straightportion of the strip edge whence it extends, said teeth being curled inopposite directions to form pairs of oppositely convoluted resilientcontiguous and nonoverlapping loops engaged through the respectiveperforations, each loop having a tapered outline and projecting with itsfree end into a notch in that edge of the strip opposite to the edgefrom which said loop extends.

5. A binder for leaves provided with marginal perforations comprising astrip of resilient mateloops being engaged through the respective per-'forations, each tooth being tapered and projecting into a notch in'thatedge of the strip opposite to the edge from which said tooth extends.

6. A binder for leaves provided with marginal perforations comprising astrip of resilient material having staggered acute notches in itsopposite longitudinal edges and integral taperin teeth extending fromstraight runs of said edges between said notches, one edge-10f eachtooth be- 7 ing aligned with one side of a! notch while the oppositeedge of said tooth meets at an angle the adjacent straight run of thestrip edge, said teeth being curled in opposite directions to form pairsof oppositely convoluted resilient. adjacent loops, the contiguous edgesof the loops in each pair running helically to the major axis of thestrip, the pairs of adjacent loops being engaged through the respectiveperforations, the free end of each tooth deeply projecting into a notchin that edge of the strip opposite to the edgefrom which said toothextends.-

7. In combination with a packol leaves provided with aligned marginalperforations, a

binder comprising a strip. of resilient material having teeth extendingfrom itsopposite longitudinal edges and so positioned: and curled inopposite directions as to form pairs of oppositely convoluted resilientcontiguous loops inserted through the respective perforations, the freeend of each tooth being adjacent the edge of the strip opposite to theedge from which said tooth ex- I tends. i

8. In combination with a pack of leaves provided with aligned marginalperforations, a binder into a notch in the edge of thestrip opposite tothe edge from which said tooth extends.

' AIlDRE f PRACHE.

